Why does everyone but me seem to love Oblivion? aka Oh look it's this thread again mk 39578

[Savagezion]

I am the same way. I played Morrowind first and thought it was decent but figured they had some bugs to work out in the level progression system and the dialogue. I eventually got Oblivion because everyone was making a big deal about it. Turns out they screwed up the level progression system even more and merely glossed over the dialogue. Which isn't saying much for the dialogue considering that in Morrowind they used a "keyword" system similar to "help" topics for windows. I felt like after talking to an NPC he was suppose to say "Did this help you with your problem?" (Think your example of "directions") Oblivion just turned the same thing into complete sentences - for the most part. The story is cliche and trope-y to the extreme. Almost every line of dialogue to every conversation is cliche and everyone is OK with it. (The same reason people LOVE to hate on Dragon Age BTW - but DA is slightly less cliche)

The ONLY thing Oblivion has to offer is a world where you can do "anything" in a bland world that I personally don't find all that interesting. Really, even the different races don't matter because every race really acts the same as the others, just some are in bad moods and some are in good moods. The lore tells me different, but my experience in the game is what I know. I actually found myself more fascinated by the beggars in a world like this than the people that mattered. But considering it is a game, thus a static environment, it really means no one in this game is really interesting. MAYBE that guy behind the church in Skingrad and that is a big maybe because he is annoying. But at least he had intrigue to him. You know a game is bad when an irritating NPC quest line is the highlight of your play sessions.

I think the game is dull in story and broken in mechanics. A sequel that actually made the worst things about its predecessor even worse or on par. Except the graphics, those improved. The aesthetics got slightly more bland though. This game is a big fat "Meh" and the fact that they pumped this out AFTER Morrowind was successful, only makes me doubt Skyrim. There was a huge hype about Oblivion too before its release. I need to see Skyrim played before I will even think about buying it. Oblivion was a step down from Morrowind, and I am not a fan of Morrowind. I think it had work that needed to be done on it. Personally, I think that Bethesda has storytelling and pacing issues. I think I was level 6-7 in Fallout and had every weapon available in the game by simply doing the average questlines. That is the same reason people get bored playing Minecraft. I mean Fallout 3 still had a story and a sense of progression but to be fair, the story really had few parts that were honestly engaging. It is very hard to give a damn about the world in a Bethesda game because we have seen it all a million times before.

I hope this changes with Skyrim, honestly I do. I would love nothing more than to join in on some TES conversations but I can't force it if I genuinely want to like it. So here is to hoping that Bethesda doesn't try to force it with Skyrim and instead does some decent writing.

 

[Mallefunction]

I didn't like it as well. For one, I hate games that make me read a manual to figure out very basic controls. The dialogue and facial animations were also an immersion killer, as well as that whole 'speechcraft' schtick. I thought we would actually get to talk to them and determine what they wanted to hear, not do a dumb little wheel puzzle.

The thing I had the biggest problem with though was the world. I didn't really like that it doesn't eventually force me to play the story missions. Yes, I like a bit of open world, but there needs to be a few threads of linearity so I remember what my real purpose in the game is. Otherwise, it's just an MMO without actually playing with other people.

 

[Epona]

There is only one reason to hate Oblivion in my opinion and that's because it ruins other games for you. The complete freedom offered to you in Oblivion almost ruined Dragon Age for me as Oblivion proved that you didn't have to have invisible walls and that you could walk from place to place(none of this click on your destination stuff) and still fit the game on one DVD.

So you're saying I'm not allowed to hate the game because it had bland characters, dull RPG elements, a railroaded and uninteresting main quest, generic landscapes, copy-pasted dungeons, abysmal dialogue system and a broken leveling system?

You'll notice that I said "in my opinion".

 

[Savagezion]

Great, another one of these threads
"Guys im one of the 10 percent of ppl who didnt like a game when 90 percent praised it, does that mean my opinion is wrong or is it their opinion that is wrong, halp pliz"

No, this thread is "hey I want to talk to people that share my opinion and every time I try someone hates on me or tells me to shut up."

I would rather have more of these threads than "The _______ in the last video game you played is/does ___________." At least this has discussion value. As well, because I don't like those threads, I don't click on them.

 

[Michael Hirst]

I'm not looking for plain validation of my own views, I want to know how to enrich my understanding of what makes Oblivion so great and hopefully improve the experience for myself, if you actually READ the comments I've been making I'm not saying it's 100% a bad game just an okay game with a lot of wasted potential.

I'm also potentially buying Skyrim which looks vastly improved and was hoping that with some input I might find a way to make Oblivion kill some time until I get to try it

I admit now thought that making the thread was stupid because I needed to say more in my original post, thankfully some people like Mike Richards have been helpful instead of just hiding behind a shield of "It's perfect, stop complaining" and "Opinions"

TL;DR I THINK THE GAME IS PLAYABLE BUT COULD BE BETTER, THE VIEWS IN THE ORIGINAL POST ARE WHAT I THINK HOLDS THE GAME BACK FROM BEING BETTER MOST OF WHICH SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FIXED IN SKYRIM.

 

[Epona]

It's fun eh? I make a cat man and he runs about on the surface of water, see he does so as he dislikes water given that he is a cat-man. Eh?

Here's the problem, his race is named Khajiit. If you don't even care about that then of course you won't get into the world. Both Morrowind and Oblivion tell you about their world in books that you can find throughout the world, it's optional if you read them. I think it's a fantastic way to give the player just as much background as they want.

Each race has it's own perks and I guess the Khajiit can walk on water, I see nothing strange about that. I have never played as a Khajiit but it sounds like fun.

Oblivion won't hold your hand but it does have a wonderful journal to help you when you want it. Your complaint about asking for directions is just petty. You want to fill the screen with everything worded as a question? It would accomplish nothing. What next, you want a dialogue wheel with a voiced protagonist? This isn't Mass Effect (though ME is also a great game, different but great).

There is only one reason to hate Oblivion in my opinion and that's because it ruins other games for you. The complete freedom offered to you in Oblivion almost ruined Dragon Age for me as Oblivion proved that you didn't have to have invisible walls and that you could walk from place to place(none of this click on your destination stuff) and still fit the game on one DVD.

My complaint wasn't about the use of "Directions" specifically but the fact that the entire dialogue system is cut down to such a basic level that it removes any personality from the interactions, look at other RPG's like Fallout, Vampire the Masquerade and Planescape Torment for how dialogue can enrich your roleplaying experience in way Oblivion really missed out on. Trying to counter my arguement with an example as poor as Mass Effect is very small minded.

I don't think Oblivions environment "ruins" other games but it definitely shows an alternative to the linear progression in many other RPG's and like I've said before Oblivions open world is one of the things I like, really beautiful envrionment, I just wish they had put more enemies/danger into it.

The dialogue system means less mandatory reading. If you want to read there are books all over the place to enrich the world but the conversations are better left to a minimum in my opinion. It's not like your character speaks anyway so using "Directions" instead of "Can you tell me how to get to the Weapon Shop" is just fine.

 

[Images]

I get how it has fans but I too do not understand the level of devotion it has. For starters, though its impressive you can chat to just about anyone, the bland voice acting and the strange habit non main characters had of jumping between voices was very odd. One old hobo lady switched between her haggard and posh tones on a whim. The other thing I hated was that bizarre conversation game.

Combat wise, though I appreciate a game that doesn't make things too easy (looking at you DA2), I found Oblivion's rather clunky and unwieldy.

 

[Draken Steel]

I certainly didnt hate it, but I didnt love it either. The mechanics were definitely improved from morrowind, but it never felt remotely as immersive....tbh it felt more like wow, where im just sorta grinding short out, occasionally reading some quest text.

 

[Epona]

Great, another one of these threads
"Guys im one of the 10 percent of ppl who didnt like a game when 90 percent praised it, does that mean my opinion is wrong or is it their opinion that is wrong, halp pliz"

No, this thread is "hey I want to talk to people that share my opinion and every time I try someone hates on me or tells me to shut up."

I would rather have more of these threads than "The _______ in the last video game you played is/does ___________." At least this has discussion value. As well, because I don't like those threads, I don't click on them.

Yeah, those threads are dumb. I listen to my 9 year old son playing with his friends and they are making up the story as they go along. "Then I shoot you and you get back up and then you.....", that what's those threads remind me of. I don't click on them either so I only see the title.

 

[Michael Hirst]

It's fun eh? I make a cat man and he runs about on the surface of water, see he does so as he dislikes water given that he is a cat-man. Eh?

Here's the problem, his race is named Khajiit. If you don't even care about that then of course you won't get into the world. Both Morrowind and Oblivion tell you about their world in books that you can find throughout the world, it's optional if you read them. I think it's a fantastic way to give the player just as much background as they want.

Each race has it's own perks and I guess the Khajiit can walk on water, I see nothing strange about that. I have never played as a Khajiit but it sounds like fun.

Oblivion won't hold your hand but it does have a wonderful journal to help you when you want it. Your complaint about asking for directions is just petty. You want to fill the screen with everything worded as a question? It would accomplish nothing. What next, you want a dialogue wheel with a voiced protagonist? This isn't Mass Effect (though ME is also a great game, different but great).

There is only one reason to hate Oblivion in my opinion and that's because it ruins other games for you. The complete freedom offered to you in Oblivion almost ruined Dragon Age for me as Oblivion proved that you didn't have to have invisible walls and that you could walk from place to place(none of this click on your destination stuff) and still fit the game on one DVD.

My complaint wasn't about the use of "Directions" specifically but the fact that the entire dialogue system is cut down to such a basic level that it removes any personality from the interactions, look at other RPG's like Fallout, Vampire the Masquerade and Planescape Torment for how dialogue can enrich your roleplaying experience in way Oblivion really missed out on. Trying to counter my arguement with an example as poor as Mass Effect is very small minded.

I don't think Oblivions environment "ruins" other games but it definitely shows an alternative to the linear progression in many other RPG's and like I've said before Oblivions open world is one of the things I like, really beautiful envrionment, I just wish they had put more enemies/danger into it.

The dialogue system means less mandatory reading. If you want to read there are books all over the place to enrich the world but the conversation are better left to a minimum in my opinion. It's not like your character speaks anyway so using "Directions" instead of "Can you tell me how to get to the Weapon Shop" is just fine.

Good reasoning on the Directions example, I suppose it does make the experience quicker if they just tell you simple facts like that but it eliminate more confontational dialogue and things like persuading people. Imagine playing as an assassin and having to be careful how you ask a question or risk arousing suspicion, instead of just asking a name to everyone in town until one gives you the golden info, what if directly asking "Where can I find John Smith?" makes someone ask "Why do you want to find him?" or "What business do you have with him?" knowing that he might have made some enemies with dangerous people.

 

[AndrewC]

This is the internet, you're not the only one. Damn son, I've not been around here long and yet thread titles like this make even a new-comer like myself sigh.

I agree with the dialogue though, pretty terrible

 

[Epona]

It's fun eh? I make a cat man and he runs about on the surface of water, see he does so as he dislikes water given that he is a cat-man. Eh?

Here's the problem, his race is named Khajiit. If you don't even care about that then of course you won't get into the world. Both Morrowind and Oblivion tell you about their world in books that you can find throughout the world, it's optional if you read them. I think it's a fantastic way to give the player just as much background as they want.

Each race has it's own perks and I guess the Khajiit can walk on water, I see nothing strange about that. I have never played as a Khajiit but it sounds like fun.

Oblivion won't hold your hand but it does have a wonderful journal to help you when you want it. Your complaint about asking for directions is just petty. You want to fill the screen with everything worded as a question? It would accomplish nothing. What next, you want a dialogue wheel with a voiced protagonist? This isn't Mass Effect (though ME is also a great game, different but great).

There is only one reason to hate Oblivion in my opinion and that's because it ruins other games for you. The complete freedom offered to you in Oblivion almost ruined Dragon Age for me as Oblivion proved that you didn't have to have invisible walls and that you could walk from place to place(none of this click on your destination stuff) and still fit the game on one DVD.

My complaint wasn't about the use of "Directions" specifically but the fact that the entire dialogue system is cut down to such a basic level that it removes any personality from the interactions, look at other RPG's like Fallout, Vampire the Masquerade and Planescape Torment for how dialogue can enrich your roleplaying experience in way Oblivion really missed out on. Trying to counter my arguement with an example as poor as Mass Effect is very small minded.

I don't think Oblivions environment "ruins" other games but it definitely shows an alternative to the linear progression in many other RPG's and like I've said before Oblivions open world is one of the things I like, really beautiful envrionment, I just wish they had put more enemies/danger into it.

The dialogue system means less mandatory reading. If you want to read there are books all over the place to enrich the world but the conversation are better left to a minimum in my opinion. It's not like your character speaks anyway so using "Directions" instead of "Can you tell me how to get to the Weapon Shop" is just fine.

Good reasoning on the Directions example, I suppose it does make the experience quicker if they just tell you simple facts like that but it eliminate more confontational dialogue and things like persuading people. Imagine playing as an assassin and having to be careful how you ask a question or risk arousing suspicion, instead of just asking a name to everyone in town until one gives you the golden info, what if directly asking "Where can I find John Smith?" makes someone ask "Why do you want to find him?" or "What business do you have with him?" knowing that he might have made some enemies with dangerous people.

I believe that happens in Oblivion sometimes, I can't think of any examples off the top of my head but I believe that your questions/answers affects how much they like you and how much they like you determines how much they tell you.

Say you want to find out about a character whom you need to assassinate. You need to speak to people to find out his schedule and determine when the best time to kill him will be. That information may require you to bribe people or cast a spell to make them like you more or something to get them to talk.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Whenever someone says they don't like Oblivion, they always come off as sounding like they've made some amazing and unbelievable discovery that's unheard of, like they've tackled racism or something.

First off, when did you play it? The vanilla version of Oblivion hasn't aged very well.

Yes, it's my favorite game, but that's because at the time I had played it (around 4 years ago), it was the most technically advanced RPG I'd ever touched. I hadn't even played a Halo game back then.

It was the most immersed I'd ever been in a game. So much so that I ended up staying at my brother's house the next day without telling my parents.

 

[Rawne1980]

It's just that Bethesda have such a massive fanboy following that defend their games to the death, they seem more vocal than those who did not enjoy the game.

Comments like this irritate the shit out of me.

So because people liked Oblivion that makes them a *insert word I refuse to use* (that word also irritates the shit out of me).

I liked Oblivion and if someone asks why I liked it I tell them. That does not make a person a *insert word I refuse to use* it means they liked a sodding game.

I won't say it didn't have it's faults but I will say I didn't have faults with it for long. Being a member of the modding community over at Nexus a lot of issues got fixed pretty fast by the guys and gals over there.

I don't think i'd have liked the game nearly as much on console without any mods though.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I was under the impression that everyone hated Oblivion. Sure it wasn't nearly as good as Morrowind, but it's a good game. It has the best expansion pack any game had ever received: Shivering Isles. That was awesome!

 

[Nokiro]

OP, don't worry, many people don't love the game. Your not the first. I agree with many of the points you make, but that doesn't stop me from liking it. Morrowind was a bit more immersive, so you can try that. While playing Oblivion, I just remembered there the difference of gameplay and story segregation and that kept me from disliking it.

 

[Amaror]

I liked Oblivion very much.
The leveling system "Learning by doing" isn't something for everyone but i loved it.
Oblivion gave you the choice to make your character perfect and thats what made me spending hours and hours searching the "Oblivion places" for dozens of Portal stones (or what's their name in englisch?), just to find one of the ones i wanted for my armor.
And the Sidequest are just fantastic. I have never played any other Rpg since oblivion, which had that great sidequests.
I mean, you gotta love the sidequest in the painting!

Oh and @Michael Hirst
Don't buy a game right after you have been told it's great.
You will expect too much and unless the game is made by Jesus it will never live up to your expectations.

 

[Michael Hirst]

It's just that Bethesda have such a massive fanboy following that defend their games to the death, they seem more vocal than those who did not enjoy the game.

Comments like this irritate the shit out of me.

So because people liked Oblivion that makes them a *insert word I refuse to use* (that word also irritates the shit out of me).

I liked Oblivion and if someone asks why I liked it I tell them. That does not make a person a *insert word I refuse to use* it means they liked a sodding game.

I won't say it didn't have it's faults but I will say I didn't have faults with it for long. Being a member of the modding community over at Nexus a lot of issues got fixed pretty fast by the guys and gals over there.

I don't think i'd have liked the game nearly as much on console without any mods though.

Well even if you take modding out of the arguement completely there's very few games that are better on a console.

I think thats what I've missed out on really, the modding, I don't get mods for many of my PC games but Oblivion seems to thrive on them. I also hate the branding of people as fanboys for liking something (I remember being called a Sony fanboy all the time at college because I didn't want a 360 but did want a PS3) I'm not accussing all the people who love Oblivion of being mindless fanboys but I am interested in what sparks such a passion for the game, seems the people who give answers with actual merit tend to say Modding is one of the big reasons.